Aaron Loomis

Jiunn Liu

Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a mix of light and medium brown, with no real pattern to the color changes. A few raised veins are present and the seams are easily visible due to the color variations on the wrapper. The head is finished off with what appears to be a triple cap with the top cap being a bit wrinkly. The overall look is quite rugged. Another note is that the cigar is quite firm the entire length. The band is the standard Cohiba Red Dot band but with a blue background. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of floral and hay while the foot gives a mix of hay and leather with a slight floral hint. The pre-light draw is quite tight, but I do get a mix of hay and leather with a slight spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Cohiba Blue Robusto has a medium brown wrapper with good oil content, leaving a semi-slick feel on the finger tips. Major veins are well pressed and seams nearly invisible. The cigar’s bunch and roll is fairly firm, giving just a slight give. The head is finished off with what appears to be a thick single cap. Nosing the wrapper tells spicy cedar, white pepper and barnyard. Nosing the foot gives jammy dried plums, cedar and slight white pepper. Cold draw reveals cardboard, cedar and faint trances of dried plums.

First Third

The cigar begins with a wood note and slight hint of cream. At a quarter inch in, the cream is gone and the wood is very light. At three quarters of an inch in, the wood note is still very light and an ashy note has joined the profile. At an inch and a quarter in, the wood becomes a little fuller and the ashiness transitions to a slight char. The retrohale is just a general wood note. This is the profile the third finishes with. the strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

First third creates a solid and tasty mixture of spicy dry cinnamon, sweetened creamy bread and airy dry wood. Through retrohaling, similar notes as the mouth draws but with greater intensity; notes of spicy cinnamon, creamy bread and mixed nuts. The finish is lengthy with creamed bread and dry wood. Strength and body is at a consistent medium throughout the entire first third.

Second Third

As the third begins, the slightly charred wood continues. At a half inch in, some bitterness joins the charred wood. The retrohale carries the charred wood note as well. At an inch in, the bitterness goes away and the charred wood continues on. At an inch and a half, a slight bit of cream joins the profile. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

The first half mimics the first third. The second half of the second third creates deeper notes of dry spicy cinnamon, new note of black coffee, mixed nuts and slightly sweetened creamy bread. Retrohaling gives spicy dry cinnamon and mixed nuts. The finish creates dry wood and heated cinnamon. Body is still medium and strength nearing medium-full.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the charred wood with slight creaminess continues. At a half inch in, the char leaves the wood while the slight cream remains. At an inch in, the cigar heats up a bit which brings a toasty note to the wood. As the cigar comes to a close, the heat increases which adds some bitterness to the toasty wood and pushes out the cream. The strength in the final third was medium-full.

Final Third

Last third is mainly spice and wood dominant with the same dry cinnamon and dry wood. The retrohale is still the same as the second third, with spicy dry cinnamon and mixed nuts. The finish is driven by a long and lingering dry wood and refined earthy minerality. Strength increases to a consistent medium-full and body remains medium.

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy and some portions got a half inch off, but always self corrected. The ash held on for each third, so close to two inches.

Burn

Great solid ashes, slightly wavy burn line, cool burn and most importantly, never needing to re-visit my lighter for each sample smoked.

Draw

The draw was fairly snug the entire way, but not sure that it caused any issues with the flavor delivery.

Overall

The cigar provided a standard wood focused flavor profile. The middle third was hit with some bitterness which took away from the enjoyment, but thankfully the final third got back on track. Strength was medium most of the way, so it’s approachable for most smokers. I’m not a fan of the concept of this cigar being a budget entry for Cohiba which is supposed to be a luxury line. Although I’m not a big fan of the Cohiba offerings, I did expect more from this cigar flavor-wise. I’m wondering if some age might help smooth out the profile. I’ll try another one down the road to see how it performs, but other than that, I probably wouldn’t plan to smoke more of these.

Aaron

Jiunn

Average

PreLight

Good

Average

FirstThird

Good

Subpar

Second Third

Good

Average

FinalThird

Good

Good

Burn

Very Good

Good

Draw

Good

Average

Overall

Good

Draw

The draw although good, was snug for all three samples I’ve smoked within a span of three weeks. Not a major deal but slightly annoying.

Overall

Within this year, I’ve voiced a plethora of times of General Cigar offerings being nothing but average. Of all brands being offered by the company, I find pleasure in the value take of the Cohiba Blue. The cigar had a tasty profile with just enough transitions and build-ups to keep me engaged the entire time. This is one cigar I will happily smoke at any time knowing it will be consistently good.